Solutions for GCP Compliance Challenges September 23, 2015 Northwestern University IRB Brown Bag Session PAMELA MASON, MPH Vice President, Mason Professional Services, LLC Adjunct Faculty, Northwestern University, School of Professional Studies Adjunct Faculty, University of Chicago, The Graham School Over 15 Years Experience in Quality Assurance, Compliance, Auditing and Training for Academic, Medical Device and Pharma Industry ASQ Certifications: Quality Auditor, Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence, Software Quality Engineer & Six Sigma Green Belt Pamela R. Mason 1
What are the GCP Compliance Challenges? Sources OSI Metrics FDA Warning Letters Complaints by Sites/IRBs/Vendors Sponsor Audit Observations Monitoring Observations What are the GCP Compliance Challenges? Size of the Organization/Staffing Investigator Oversight Qualifications and Experience of Site/CRO/IRB Staff Protocol Complexity Timelines, Milestones and Deliverables Regulations Culture Pamela R. Mason 2
Page 1 Office of Scientific Investigations Metrics [Updated: January 2015 ] Inspections Overseen by OSI* (CDER, FY 2005 - FY 2014) Page 5 *Based on inspection start date [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] IRB includes only CDER numbers previously reported metrics may have used combined data across CDER, CBER and CDRH, Sponsor (GCP) includes Sponsor/CRO/Sponsor-Investigator Postmarketing Adverse Drug Event and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy inspection programs incorporated into OSI June 2011 Pamela R. Mason 3
Page 7 Bioresearch Monitoring Program Inspections* (CDER, FY 2014) *Based on inspection start date [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] IRB includes only CDER numbers previously reported metrics may have combined data across CDER, CBER and CDRH Clinical Investigator Inspections* (All Centers, FY 2014) Page 8 CDER 452 CBER 131 CDRH 220 Total 803 *CDER numbers based on inspection start date [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] CDRH numbers based on inspection end date, CBER numbers based on end date of classified inspections CDER: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. CBER: Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. CDRH: Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Pamela R. Mason 4
Clinical Investigator Inspections* (CDER, FY 2005 FY 2014) Page 10 *Based on inspection start date [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] Page 14 Clinical Investigator Inspections Final Classification* (FY 2014) *Based on Letter Issue date; Includes OAI Untitled Letters, [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] Pamela R. Mason 5
Page 15 International Clinical Investigator Inspections Final Class* (CDER, FY 2014) *Based on Letter Issue date; Includes OAI Untitled Letters, [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] Page 16 Frequency of Clinical Investigator-Related Deficiencies Based on Post-Inspection Correspondence Issued* (CDER, FY 2014) Domestic CI Deficiencies Foreign CI Deficiencies *Based on letter issue date; Inspections may have multiple deficiencies, [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] Note:this does not denote number of inspections completed, but rather number of inspection reports evaluated and closed in FY2014. Pamela R. Mason 6
Page 17 Frequency of Clinical Investigator Related Deficiencies Based on Post-Inspectional Correspondence Issued: Official Action Indicated (OAI) Final classification* (CDER, FY 2014) *Based on letter issue date. Inspections may have multiple deficiencies. Includes OAI untitled letters. [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] Note that this does not denote number of inspections completed, but rather number of inspection reports evaluated and closed in FY2014. OSI Warning Letters* (CDER, FY 2005 - FY 2014) *Based on letter issue date [OSI database as of January 20, 2015] As of June 2011, the Postmarketing Adverse Drug Event inspection program was incorporated into OSI Includes Clinical Investigators, Sponsor/CRO/Sponsor-Investigator (GCP), IRB, BEQ, GLP, Adverse Drug Event (ADE) and Postmarketing Requirements (PMR) Warning Letters PMR includes all required studies and clinical trials that are mandated by statute (e.g., section 505(o)(3) of FDCA, PREA, Animal Rule and 21 CFR 314 and 601 Subparts H and E, respectively Pamela R. Mason 7
2Q2015 FDA Warning Letter Review During the 2nd quarter 2015, the FDA issued 173 warning letters (Apr 2015 Jun 2015) April: 76 May: 46 June: 51 Of the 173 warning letters, 3 (2%) warning letters were issued in regard to GCP violations. As of 26 July 2015, the web page had uploaded warning letters dated through 30 June 2015. 2Q2015 FDA Warning Letter Review Taken from FDA s website: http://www.fda.gov/iceci/enforcementactions/warnin gletters/ Regulatory violations coded under 21 CFR Parts 50, 54, 56, 312, 314, 320, 812, and 814. These regulatory sections of the CFR encompass what is generally regarded as Good Clinical Practices (GCP). Pamela R. Mason 8
2Q2015 FDA Warning Letter Review The observations noted by the FDA: Sponsor GCP Inspection 1. Failure to submit an IND for the conduct of clinical investigations with an investigational new drug that is subject to 21 CFR 312.2(a) [21 CFR 312.20(a), (b) and 312.40(a), (b)]. 2. Failure to ensure proper monitoring of the clinical investigations [21 CFR 312.50; 312.56(a)]. Clinical Investigator GCP Inspection You failed to ensure that the investigation was conducted according to the investigational plan [21 CFR 312.60]. 2Q2015 FDA Warning Letter Review The observations noted by the FDA: Clinical Investigator GCP Inspection 1. You failed to ensure that the investigation was conducted according to the investigational plan [21 CFR 312.60]. 2. You failed to maintain adequate and accurate case histories that record all observations and other data pertinent to the investigation on each individual administered the investigational drug or employed as a control in the investigation [21 CFR 312.62(b)]. Pamela R. Mason 9
What does the FDA Expect? Take action immediately! Address the observations noted in the warning letter Provide specifics that can be verified at a later date The solution should correct the issue and prevent recurrence. What does the FDA Expect? Taken from warning letters on the FDA s website. Pamela R. Mason 10
What does the FDA Expect? Taken from warning letters on the FDA s website. What does the FDA Expect? Taken from warning letters on the FDA s website. Pamela R. Mason 11
Solutions to GCP Compliance a. Seek clarification from the Sponsor b. Read and review the FDA s warning letters c. Conduct an investigation d. Document and collect data What are the best metrics? e. Listen to your staff f. Attend the protocol feasibility discussions Does this work for your site? g. Track and Monitor protocol deviations and violations h. Institute QC/review practices i. Train your staff (early and often) The Solution: ACT As soon as you become aware of the issue/problem Consider the patients, customers and stakeholders Consider the risk associated with the issue/problem Seek long term solutions that address the root cause of the issue Assess / Audit Conduct independent audits Perform internal assessments Collaborate/Correct Consult specialists Implement Corrective and Preventive Actions Transfer Knowledge Share learnings Training sessions to reinforce Pamela R. Mason 12
GCP Compliance Checklist ACT! Take Action! Act now! ACT often! Corrective Action! Preventive Action! GCP Compliance Checklist ACT 1. Assessment / Audit 2. Collaborate / Root Cause / Corrective Action / Preventive Action 3. Transfer Learnings / Training Pamela R. Mason 13
Thank You! Pamela Mason, MPH Vice President Mason Professional Services, LLC masonprofsvcsllc@gmail.com 312 218 7018 Pamela R. Mason 14